Economic Buzz: US small business optimism rises despite uncertainty around tariffs
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased by three points in May to 98.8, slightly above the 51-year average of 98.
Expected business conditions and sales expectations contributed the most to the rise in the index.
The Uncertainty Index rose two points from April to 94. Eighteen percent of small business owners reported taxes as their single most important problem, up two points from April and ranking as the top problem.
The share of business owners expecting better business conditions rose 10 percentage points from April to May to reach 25%, while the share expecting higher real sales volume increased 11 percentage points to reach 10%, according to the report.
The report attributed the rise in uncertainty among small business owners to unresolved issues around tariffs and President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill.
Powered by Commodity Insights